Short field Advanced Trainer?
05-16-2004 | 12:06 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Short field Advanced Trainer?
I've been flying electrics for about 2 years now and have recently been bitten by the glow bug. It started when I was given an old Hobbico Sturdy Birdy by a beginner who could not get it to fly. I got it flying over the hayfield in my backyard with no problem. This is where I fly my electrics. No problem that is, except for landings. My "runway" is a portion of my backyard next to the hayfield that is about 150 feet long and 25 feet wide with an open approach from one end only. The Sturdy Birdy is a fairly fast, heavy plane and it's very hard to get it down safely on such a small runway. It's also a little difficult to get it to take off with such a short run, but that I can manage with a little headwind.
I want to buy a new glow trainer-type plane that I can fly (and land) at home, so it needs to have good short field capability. I will also fly it at the club field. The .40 size RTF complete package trainers from Hangar 9 have caught my eye, including the Alpha, the Arrow and the Xtra Easy 2.
My problem is deciding which plane will work the best for the short field at home while still having enough advanced capabilities for aerobatics to suit my experience and ability. They all are about the same price so that's not really an issue. I expect they should all have pretty good short field take off capability due to the Evolution Trainer Power System they all have, which to the best of what I can find out is about a .45 size and I'm told has lots of power. But I need to know how well they will slow down for landing. I believe the flat bottom wings will be better at this, but I don't want to sacrifice too much advanced capability by going this route. The semi-symmetrical airfoil of the Arrow should give better advanced-flying capabilities, but will it slow down enough for the landings?
In a nutshell (which I probably should have done to begin with), I'm looking for an RTF complete package .40 size advanced trainer for about $300 that's capable of at least basic aerobatics, that also has lots of power for short takeoffs and the ability to slow down well for short landings.
Any advice anybody has to offer would be much appreciated.
Thanks.
I want to buy a new glow trainer-type plane that I can fly (and land) at home, so it needs to have good short field capability. I will also fly it at the club field. The .40 size RTF complete package trainers from Hangar 9 have caught my eye, including the Alpha, the Arrow and the Xtra Easy 2.
My problem is deciding which plane will work the best for the short field at home while still having enough advanced capabilities for aerobatics to suit my experience and ability. They all are about the same price so that's not really an issue. I expect they should all have pretty good short field take off capability due to the Evolution Trainer Power System they all have, which to the best of what I can find out is about a .45 size and I'm told has lots of power. But I need to know how well they will slow down for landing. I believe the flat bottom wings will be better at this, but I don't want to sacrifice too much advanced capability by going this route. The semi-symmetrical airfoil of the Arrow should give better advanced-flying capabilities, but will it slow down enough for the landings?
In a nutshell (which I probably should have done to begin with), I'm looking for an RTF complete package .40 size advanced trainer for about $300 that's capable of at least basic aerobatics, that also has lots of power for short takeoffs and the ability to slow down well for short landings.
Any advice anybody has to offer would be much appreciated.
Thanks.
05-16-2004 | 04:22 PM
#3
Thread Starter
Senior Member
RE: Short field Advanced Trainer?
Thanks Kmot. That's a good point. I found a couple with that capability but I didn't like other things about them. Can't remember which ones they were now. I'll have to try to find them again and take a second look at them. I was also thinking I might be able to add another servo to one of the Hangar 9 planes mentioned above, but I don't have a lot of building experience and am not sure how difficult that would be. I'm sure I could do it and at some point would attempt to, but I hate the thought of cutting into a brand new plane. I have set up flaperons before on one my electric planes. It didn't really need them but I just had to see how it worked. 
05-16-2004 | 04:47 PM
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RE: Short field Advanced Trainer?
ORIGINAL: av8r1
I've been flying electrics for about 2 years now and have recently been bitten by the glow bug. It started when I was given an old Hobbico Sturdy Birdy by a beginner who could not get it to fly. I got it flying over the hayfield in my backyard with no problem. This is where I fly my electrics. No problem that is, except for landings. My "runway" is a portion of my backyard next to the hayfield that is about 150 feet long and 25 feet wide with an open approach from one end only. The Sturdy Birdy is a fairly fast, heavy plane and it's very hard to get it down safely on such a small runway. It's also a little difficult to get it to take off with such a short run, but that I can manage with a little headwind.
I want to buy a new glow trainer-type plane that I can fly (and land) at home, so it needs to have good short field capability. I will also fly it at the club field. The .40 size RTF complete package trainers from Hangar 9 have caught my eye, including the Alpha, the Arrow and the Xtra Easy 2.
My problem is deciding which plane will work the best for the short field at home while still having enough advanced capabilities for aerobatics to suit my experience and ability. They all are about the same price so that's not really an issue. I expect they should all have pretty good short field take off capability due to the Evolution Trainer Power System they all have, which to the best of what I can find out is about a .45 size and I'm told has lots of power. But I need to know how well they will slow down for landing. I believe the flat bottom wings will be better at this, but I don't want to sacrifice too much advanced capability by going this route. The semi-symmetrical airfoil of the Arrow should give better advanced-flying capabilities, but will it slow down enough for the landings?
In a nutshell (which I probably should have done to begin with), I'm looking for an RTF complete package .40 size advanced trainer for about $300 that's capable of at least basic aerobatics, that also has lots of power for short takeoffs and the ability to slow down well for short landings.
Any advice anybody has to offer would be much appreciated.
Thanks.
I've been flying electrics for about 2 years now and have recently been bitten by the glow bug. It started when I was given an old Hobbico Sturdy Birdy by a beginner who could not get it to fly. I got it flying over the hayfield in my backyard with no problem. This is where I fly my electrics. No problem that is, except for landings. My "runway" is a portion of my backyard next to the hayfield that is about 150 feet long and 25 feet wide with an open approach from one end only. The Sturdy Birdy is a fairly fast, heavy plane and it's very hard to get it down safely on such a small runway. It's also a little difficult to get it to take off with such a short run, but that I can manage with a little headwind.
I want to buy a new glow trainer-type plane that I can fly (and land) at home, so it needs to have good short field capability. I will also fly it at the club field. The .40 size RTF complete package trainers from Hangar 9 have caught my eye, including the Alpha, the Arrow and the Xtra Easy 2.
My problem is deciding which plane will work the best for the short field at home while still having enough advanced capabilities for aerobatics to suit my experience and ability. They all are about the same price so that's not really an issue. I expect they should all have pretty good short field take off capability due to the Evolution Trainer Power System they all have, which to the best of what I can find out is about a .45 size and I'm told has lots of power. But I need to know how well they will slow down for landing. I believe the flat bottom wings will be better at this, but I don't want to sacrifice too much advanced capability by going this route. The semi-symmetrical airfoil of the Arrow should give better advanced-flying capabilities, but will it slow down enough for the landings?
In a nutshell (which I probably should have done to begin with), I'm looking for an RTF complete package .40 size advanced trainer for about $300 that's capable of at least basic aerobatics, that also has lots of power for short takeoffs and the ability to slow down well for short landings.
Any advice anybody has to offer would be much appreciated.
Thanks.
05-16-2004 | 09:26 PM
#6
Thread Starter
Senior Member
RE: Short field Advanced Trainer?
Thanks Cogburn. That is tempting. I've looked at some pretty cool low-wing advanced aerobatic planes and considered jumping right into something like that since I've flown a very aerobatic electric a lot. But there's just something about a high-wing trainer that appeals to me right now. It seems like the kind of plane that would always be enjoyable to fly even if I had more advanced planes. So, I figure why not play it safe and just get one now and see what I've missed out on by going the electric route first.
05-16-2004 | 09:59 PM
#7
Thread Starter
Senior Member
RE: Short field Advanced Trainer?
Thanks for the advice panteraplace. I'll check that one out too. It wouldn't be the first ugly plane I've had that is a great flyer. Good to know that tricycle gear is good for short landings. I did not realize that.
05-16-2004 | 10:09 PM
#8
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RE: Short field Advanced Trainer?
I'd lookat a 'Stik' also - H9 has a nice .40 sized one....but not 'complete with radio' so you will need 7 servos and a computer radio to get the most out of this bird - but with a strong .60 you can go vertical in a couple of feet!
Jerry
Jerry
05-16-2004 | 10:10 PM
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From: Aurora,
SD
RE: Short field Advanced Trainer?
I can see your point. I have had a few Avistars and they are alot of fun to have around and are good for knocking the rust off the thumbs. The thing with trainers is that they are usually a little heavy to really slow down well. A light funfly airplane is pretty easy to fly and with the low wing loading and a big low pitch prop landing speed is s-l-o-w. An avistar handles well but i would feel a LOT happier with a funstar etc. getting onto a 25ft wide patch. I think the H9 Arrow is similar to the Hobbico Avistar. On one of my avistars was modified by removing the dihedral,lightened and converted to a taildragger. It was Much more fun to fly. Look for a plane with a low weight (4-5lbs.), low wing loading, and a thick semi-symmetrical wing. Clancy Aviation??
06-04-2004 | 09:35 PM
#10
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Senior Member
RE: Short field Advanced Trainer?
Well, I decided to go with the Avistar Select. Got it yesterday, assembled it and set it up last night and flew it today at the club field. It was nose heavy and I put an ounce of lead on the tail which helped a lot. I think it needs just a little more. Other than that it flew great. Didn't do anything fancy, just flew around getting the feel of it and dealing with the nose-heavy deal. Lands very nicely on the big, wide, flat club field.
It developed quite a few wrinkles in the covering after flying, mostly on the fuselage. I've never worked with covering. Is this normal? Do I need to get an iron and heat gun? I tried a hair dryer but it didn't do anything and I didn't want to risk damaging the covering so I didn't push it too much.
It developed quite a few wrinkles in the covering after flying, mostly on the fuselage. I've never worked with covering. Is this normal? Do I need to get an iron and heat gun? I tried a hair dryer but it didn't do anything and I didn't want to risk damaging the covering so I didn't push it too much.
06-04-2004 | 10:34 PM
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From: Aurora,
SD
RE: Short field Advanced Trainer?
Avistars are nice airplanes! I won one ready to fly and flew it about an hour after i won it. I always liked it for something comfortable to fly that would do all the basic aerobatics. Kinda miss mine i smacked one into a tree that happend to jump in the way and sold the other to my neighbor when he took up the hobbie. I'm sure you'll enjoy it! The covering wrinkles should shrink right out with a covering iron. A hair drier would probably do it but you have to get pretty close to the covering.
. I always liked it for something comfortable to fly that would do all the basic aerobatics. Kinda miss mine i smacked one into a tree that happend to jump in the way and sold the other to my neighbor when he took up the hobbie. I'm sure you'll enjoy it! The covering wrinkles should shrink right out with a covering iron. A hair drier would probably do it but you have to get pretty close to the covering.
06-05-2004 | 09:29 AM
#12
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Senior Member
RE: Short field Advanced Trainer?
That's good to hear. I really like this plane so far. It felt real good on my last flight. A little more tweaking on the cg and it should be real nice. I want to try some aerobatics but am being a little cautious because of the way the wing halves are connected with the steel joiner rod and little metal straps. Did the wing hold up ok doing aerobatics that way or did you epoxy them together? I'll have to get a heat gun and iron. Thanks for the reply.
06-05-2004 | 10:24 AM
#14
Thread Starter
Senior Member
RE: Short field Advanced Trainer?
Oh ok, the ones with the wood joiner. I figured the one you won and flew an hour later must have been the RTF version. I might want to take the dihedral out but I don't know how difficult that might be with the RTF version with the steel rod. That steel rod is probably the cause of the nose heaviness too. I'd also like to put a bigger .46 engine in it. The OS 40LA that came with it is a good engine but a little more oomph would be nice. It will probably be a little better when I get done breaking it in by running it a little rich for the first few flights.
07-01-2004 | 09:39 PM
#15
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RE: Short field Advanced Trainer?
I've been flying the Avistar a lot at the club field and loving every minute of it. What a great airplane!
I finally flew it at home tonight with flaperons, the muffler baffle removed and an APC 10x6 prop. It will take off very short and land pretty slow with the flaperons. It's really tight quarters even though I've enlarged the landing strip some more, but I've become very comfortable flying this plane and the weather was just about perfect so I just had to try it. I did two takeoffs and landings without incident, but it was tricky. I'm sure there are better planes to do this with as has been suggested. But it can be done.
I finally flew it at home tonight with flaperons, the muffler baffle removed and an APC 10x6 prop. It will take off very short and land pretty slow with the flaperons. It's really tight quarters even though I've enlarged the landing strip some more, but I've become very comfortable flying this plane and the weather was just about perfect so I just had to try it. I did two takeoffs and landings without incident, but it was tricky. I'm sure there are better planes to do this with as has been suggested. But it can be done.
07-02-2004 | 09:35 AM
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From: Aurora,
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RE: Short field Advanced Trainer?
Flies a little better than that old sturdie birdie eh??
It is good to see that you are having fun with it. They are very adaptable airplanes.
Thought about the taildragger conversion yet??
It is good to see that you are having fun with it. They are very adaptable airplanes.
Thought about the taildragger conversion yet??
07-02-2004 | 09:54 AM
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From: Fruitland, ID
RE: Short field Advanced Trainer?
Get yourself a Vector Flight Edge 540 with a good running 90. It will be off in 15' and headed vertical. I fly from a 150 foot grass strip by my garage and only have trouble when I have a flame out. Put a barrier at the end out of that orange plastic net stuff, to catch serious over runs. I haven't damaged my plane from going into the barrier. Only time I've even hit it is when dead sticking in after an engine failure.
07-02-2004 | 09:14 PM
#18
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RE: Short field Advanced Trainer?
ORIGINAL: Cogburn
Flies a little better than that old sturdie birdie eh??
It is good to see that you are having fun with it. They are very adaptable airplanes.
Thought about the taildragger conversion yet??
Flies a little better than that old sturdie birdie eh??
It is good to see that you are having fun with it. They are very adaptable airplanes.
Thought about the taildragger conversion yet??
07-02-2004 | 09:18 PM
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IL
RE: Short field Advanced Trainer?
ORIGINAL: av8r1
Oh yeah. It's a sweet flying airplane. I've thought about the taildragger, maybe someday. Right now I'm thinking about more power. The 40LA is a nice engine that does just fine, even going vertical for a little bit, but more power might be interesting.
Oh yeah. It's a sweet flying airplane. I've thought about the taildragger, maybe someday. Right now I'm thinking about more power. The 40LA is a nice engine that does just fine, even going vertical for a little bit, but more power might be interesting.
07-02-2004 | 09:31 PM
#21
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RE: Short field Advanced Trainer?
ORIGINAL: Don d
Get yourself a Vector Flight Edge 540 with a good running 90. It will be off in 15' and headed vertical. I fly from a 150 foot grass strip by my garage and only have trouble when I have a flame out. Put a barrier at the end out of that orange plastic net stuff, to catch serious over runs. I haven't damaged my plane from going into the barrier. Only time I've even hit it is when dead sticking in after an engine failure.
Get yourself a Vector Flight Edge 540 with a good running 90. It will be off in 15' and headed vertical. I fly from a 150 foot grass strip by my garage and only have trouble when I have a flame out. Put a barrier at the end out of that orange plastic net stuff, to catch serious over runs. I haven't damaged my plane from going into the barrier. Only time I've even hit it is when dead sticking in after an engine failure.
